In keeping with Steve's post below, another reason home ownership may not be every it's cracked up to be:

Today, New York City's Department of Buildings issued an advisory urging property owners to remove snow from their roofs and out of their gutters in anticipation of an imminent icy storm. It reminds property owners that they are obligated under the city ordinances to maintain their property in safe condition.

A telling edit in the advisory suggests, to me at least, that the Department is cognizant that the prospect of high winds and ice is not likely to encourage people to climb up their snow-covered roofs. Without previous mention of winds, the advisory suddenly states "These gusts may reach higher speed than forecast . . ."

Before I got up on my roof, I'd want to hear more about "these gusts."